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Using Citizen Science to Build Baseline Data on Tropical Tree Phenology


Affiliations
1 Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 017, India, India
2 Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 017, India, India
 

Large-scale and long-term baselines on climate-sensi­tive phenology of widespread tree species are lacking in the Indian subcontinent. Citizen scientists can help bridge this information gap by contributing simple, technology-based data. Here we describe an India-wide initiative called SeasonWatch, with preliminary insights into contributor behaviour and species phenology. Bet­ween 2011 and 2019, cumulative contributor numbers have increased every year, although consistent contribution remains constant and low. We describe seasonal and spatial phenological patterns in most-observed species based on repeated monitoring and one-time ‘bioblitz’ events. We study in detail the flowering phenology of one particular species, Cassia fistula, which appears to show aberrant phenology, reflecting a potential shift away from culturally known flowering dates. We conclude that citizen science-contributed information can be a valuable reference database to compare future changes in tree phenology

Keywords

Baseline Data, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Seasonality, Tree Phenology.
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  • Using Citizen Science to Build Baseline Data on Tropical Tree Phenology

Abstract Views: 196  |  PDF Views: 78

Authors

Geetha Ramaswami
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 017, India, India
Swati Sidhu
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 017, India, India
Suhel Quader
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 017, India, India

Abstract


Large-scale and long-term baselines on climate-sensi­tive phenology of widespread tree species are lacking in the Indian subcontinent. Citizen scientists can help bridge this information gap by contributing simple, technology-based data. Here we describe an India-wide initiative called SeasonWatch, with preliminary insights into contributor behaviour and species phenology. Bet­ween 2011 and 2019, cumulative contributor numbers have increased every year, although consistent contribution remains constant and low. We describe seasonal and spatial phenological patterns in most-observed species based on repeated monitoring and one-time ‘bioblitz’ events. We study in detail the flowering phenology of one particular species, Cassia fistula, which appears to show aberrant phenology, reflecting a potential shift away from culturally known flowering dates. We conclude that citizen science-contributed information can be a valuable reference database to compare future changes in tree phenology

Keywords


Baseline Data, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Seasonality, Tree Phenology.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv121%2Fi11%2F1409-1416